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Had a nasty surprise yesterday

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Calendula  Send Calendula a private message!



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Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 11:36 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post



Took this picture yesterday after we visited SIL in the Country near us.

Little did we know that while we were away from our home we had unwanted visitors to our house. More descriptive, our house was robbed while we went away for a few hours. What a shock it is when you finally realize you have been burglarized. The things that go through your head. I presumed that it were crooks that just happened by on our street as we left the front yard and so they invited themselfes in.
It just happened that our friend and former owner of our house drove by to visit the Park (after we had left). She looked in our yard and saw a blue van standing there. The door was open to the car and a slim, tall man stood next to it. She slowed down her car and blew the horn 3 times but did not stop because she was late for her meeting with others in the Park. She thought we had hired workmen to do a job on our house.
When we got back from our trip we spend some time in the garden before we went into the house and the friend came back to see us on her return from the Park. We looked at the things in the garden and then went inside for a cup of tea.
I quickly tydied up a bit (in spring it's myr garden first and the house second) and as I brought some articles in the bedroom I noticed it right away. There were coins strewn across the floor my daughters Doll lay on the floor, a wrist watch from the jewelery box lay on the bed. That;s when a creapy feeling came over me. I looked on the dresser at my jewelery box and it was clear "someone invaded our house" and privacy. They left my gold Pendants and chains etc. intact but in the second drawer I had ca $ 20.00 worth of quarters. they were gone. I also collected a few $ 2.00 bills (now out of circulation) and a few $ 1.00 also out of circulation now. Also a few 5.00 which will be out in anothr 2 year also. Nothing else was taken or disturbed. But that is because my friend (remember) went by and slowed down and blew the horn. We supect that there were 2 people involved in the break and entry, one stood guard in the front yard while the other helped himself through the window in our walk out basement. I don't know why I did not notice the screen leaning against the house when I walked in the garden with my friend. Then she wanted to see my sewing room and I said to her:" hmm why did hubby open the window? And the curtains were undone , the tiebacks were gone.
Of course it all made sense when I checked with hubby and learned he had not open the window etc.

We called the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) and an officer came to investigate. There was not much he could do. He took notes and gave us good advice. There is nothing one can do to prevent such things. They used a crowbar to lift the window out. I had a 2x1 long piece of wood next to the bottom of the window, but they jammed the window open. The wood did not stop them. We just hope that they will not "re-visit" our place ever again. I was very upset over this . After all you do feel violated when such a thing happens.

Calendula - Ontario, Zone "5b"
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Nibbs  Send Nibbs a private message!



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Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 11:53 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

How upsetting! And it's so difficult to make your home safe from intruders who will damage a home to get in. I think of the old saying about locks only keeping out honest people. Thank goodness your friend honked her horn!

Diane British Columbia Zone 7b
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Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 12:11 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

That is awful and disconcerting. I know what it's like. We've had multiple instances of people stealing things from our house, and always when someone was home. I hope you don't stay creeped out for long. It wears a person down. I am still bothered to this day, getting all worked up when I even so much as think I hear someone in or around the house.

Heirloomgardens - Massachusetts, Zone "5b"
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Plantynut  Send Plantynut a private message!



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Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 03:07 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I know how you feel Cal. That happened to us our first year in the house. Before computers and fancy electronics. We had a big loss and they made a mess.

Plantynut - New York, Zone " 7"
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Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 03:45 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I'm so sorry!
Try to move on...

Gardenbug - Ontario, Zone "4/5"
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Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 08:41 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

So sorry to hear this.

Duckwatcher - Northern California, Zone "9b"
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Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 09:07 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I am so sorry to hear this, I sure hope this gets worked out soon.

Karma - PNW, Zone "Z-Denial "
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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 05:24 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

OH my! I'm so very sorry. That's horrible! Thank goodness your friend saw them and tooted the horn.

Deanne New Hampshire Zone 5
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Calendula  Send Calendula a private message!



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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 07:50 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thank you All. You are so very kind to care.
Arlene, I am sorry for you also and those who had similar experiences. It is even more aggravating when the loss is big and the mess even bigger.
For me it was an upset because someone had the nerve to come through the window, rip upstairs and straight for our bedroom. I scrubbed the whole room afterwards and had a difficult time sleeping the first night.
But I have moved on, had lots of support at home. And thanks for your support as well.

Calendula - Ontario, Zone "5b"
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Loretta  Send Loretta a private message!



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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 08:44 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

We had a similar experience a few years back. He didn't take much and skipped over some valuables just like you. The cops felt that pattern showed someone looking for a little drug money. I think he was eventually caught but we never got anything back.

Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"
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Calendula  Send Calendula a private message!



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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 09:06 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Interesting account, Loretta. It shows, I am not an isolated case and I was aware of that. However, you hear someone else' stories but it does not do the same thing as if you actually experience it yourself. Yes, you are correct, they did not look for things they have to sell. Just money. We of course don't keep money in the house and what we have we took it with us in billfolds and I in my purse. Thanks goodness because I have a few credit cards and debit cards in my bill fold. Identity theft is something to be leery of as well. I know it was someone with a blue pick up truck with a cab on. I suspect it is someone from a village East of us. They have to drive by our road to go to work in the city.

Calendula - Ontario, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 01:45 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I had a friend who was practically whiped clean, all because the newspaper wasn't held for a few days(even tho he requested it). The theif knew he wasn't home b/c of the news papers left on the front stoop

Duckwatcher - Northern California, Zone "9b"
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Calendula  Send Calendula a private message!



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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 03:02 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I know what you'r saying Duckwatcher, the irony is that according to our time when we left (to bring refuse to the dump) and the time our friend drove by only 15 minutes had elapsed. So it looked very much that the minute we had left "They moved in!".
I think we were being watched, or they co-incidantal saw us leave our yard together. But it must have been quiet the co-incident.
We don't get a newspaper delivered so that cancels this out for us. And we never go for longer then three days, alone because of our two cats. No matter what you do or don't do, there is no sure way to prevent such a unfortunate happening.

Calendula - Ontario, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 03:59 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Cal, I sure hope they find who did it. That had to be an awful feeling once you realized that you had indeed been robbed.

Sunnyday2day - Michigan, Zone "Zone 5"
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Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 08:51 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Such a feeling of being violated. It will take a while until that feeling passes.

Rosemary - CT, Zone "5"
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Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 05:07 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Glad that you and family are ok and werent there when the jerks broke in!
Hope that you can still feel safe at home!!

huggerz
dori

Notmartha - mi, Zone "6a"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 06:43 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

What a rotten thing to happen! I suppose perversely one has to be grateful they didn't take much and didn't wreak havoc with your possessions. Like the others, I hope you're able to put it behind you soon.

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Pixc  Send Pixc a private message!



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Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 10:29 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Oh how completely awful Cal!! At least it was lucky that your friend blew the horn or it likely would have been much worse as bad as it was. You must be very shaken over this!

There isn't much you can do other than making it as difficult for them as possible to get in and of course having neighbors keeping an eye on your place certainly helps. Here in our rural area we are lucky to have two houses just across the road and we all watch each other's houses and tell each other when we are going away for any length of time.

Eyes on your home is the best security of all!

Pixc - Ontario, Zone "Z5b"
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Calendula  Send Calendula a private message!



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Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 11:23 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post



Thanks again everyone that supported me with such kind words. It sure helped me to cope with this a whole lot better.
Have a nice day and a sunny and bright weekend.

Calendula - Ontario, Zone "5b"
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Valia  Send Valia a private message!



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Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 08:25 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

This is terrible, Cal. I don't know how I missed this thread before.

We had a very bad burglary a few years ago and I have a warning: Be careful. These miscreants often return because they now know a little more about the house. Ours came back and we learned that this is quite common. If you can put some kind of burglar discouragers around -- sound or motion activated alarms or lights -- it's a good idea. Having them hit you a second time makes you feel even more vulnerable.

Valia - UT (winter) WA (summer), Zone "8 and 5"
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